Companies can be a lot like the agents they employ when it comes to the Internet. They often give lots of lip service about what they are going to do to improve their online business, then end up frustrated when half-hearted efforts don’t produce expected results. However, just as there are exceptional Internet-savvy agents, there are also exceptional companies whose commitment to transforming their online business is backed with determined action. Here's the story of one that got it right.

After only 3 weeks, one of my clients had to let one of his staff members go. This staff member came highly recommended and had all of the qualifications for the job; she even had experience in the industry. That didn’t mean that she was going to fit. She was a stress case and, in his business he needed someone flexible and adaptable. I understood and wasn’t surprised he had to let her go. After having a few conversations with the company’s president and getting to know him a little, I got a sense of the TYPE of people that would be a good fit for his organization.

Warren Buffet is the ultimate contrarian. When the market is up and people are excited, he is selling; when the market is down and people are freaked out, he is buying.

Agents spend millions of dollars each year on Web sites. Many generate no leads. If you want to turn your Web site into a lead-generation machine, here are four tried and true ways to do it.